Combination of climbing exerciser and treadmill

ABSTRACT

An exerciser includes a frame and two operation members with two respective endless belts are pivotably connected to two supports on a rear end of the frame. The endless belts reeves through a driving shaft connected between the two supports. Two sets of swing devices are connected to a middle bar of the frame and the two operation members are connected to the two sets of swing devices so as to be alternatively stepped up and down when the exerciser is used as a climbing exerciser. A U-shaped member is connected to the front end of the frame and connects the two operation members as a one-piece. The two operation members are supported on the two supports in the mold of climbing exerciser, and are supported by the driving shaft when in the mold of treadmill.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an exerciser which can be used as either an climbing exerciser or a treadmill.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional exerciser such as a treadmill generally includes a tread board with a driving shaft which is driven by a motor and a board which includes a roller, an endless belt reeves through the driving shaft and the roller so that the endless belt moves at desired speed and users exercise on the endless belt. The treadmill exercises a certain part of the muscles. Another type of exerciser such as a climbing exerciser, includes two pivotable pedals which can be pivoted up and down with a pre-determined resistance. The climbing exerciser exercises some other part of muscles. Although the two functions are welcomed by the users, they are two different and bulky exercisers, and the users cannot afford to own the two different exercisers.

The present invention intends to provide an exerciser that includes two different molds of use and the shaft that the two pedals are pivotable about and the shaft that the tread board is connected are two individual shafts so that the two shafts have longer life of use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an exerciser that comprises a frame having a front bar, a middle bar and a rear bar connected between two sides of the frame. Two sets of swing devices are connected to the middle bar and a driving shaft is connected between two supports and driven by a motor. Two operation members each have a roller connected to a front end thereof and an inner rail and an outer rail. A central member extends from a middle of the rear bar. Each operation member has the outer rail pivotably connected to the respective one of the two supports and the inner rail pivotably connected to the central member. Two endless belts are respectively reeve through the rollers of the two operation members and the driving shaft. The two swing devices are respectively connected to two respective undersides of the two operation members.

The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the exerciser of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view to show the exerciser of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a top view to show the exerciser of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the exerciser of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows the front ends of the operation members are lifted by pivoting the U-shaped member;

FIG. 6 shows the exerciser of the present invention is used as a treadmill;

FIG. 7 shows the exerciser of the present invention is used as a climbing exerciser;

FIG. 8A shows the rear wheel mechanism is located at a lower position, and

FIG. 8B shows the rear wheel mechanism is located at a higher position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the exerciser “A” of the present invention comprises a rectangular frame 30 having a front bar 31, a middle bar 32 and a rear bar 33 connected between two sides of the frame 30. Two front wheels 65 are connected to two respective undersides of front ends of the two sides of the frame 30 and a rear wheel mechanism is connected to the rear bar 33 so that the exerciser can be easily moved. Two sets of swing devices 50 are connected to a connection portion 51 pivotably connected on the middle bar 32. Two links 52 are connected to each of two ends of the connection portion 51 and two L-shaped members 53 are pivotably connected to two operation members 10 which are described later, so that the two operation members 10 can be operated as a climbing exerciser. A driving shaft 35 driven by a motor “C” has two idle wheels 36 connected to two ends thereof and an axle 351 is supported and engaged with two notches 341 in two supports 34 connected on the two sides of the rear end of the frame 30. The two supports 34 each have a first hole 342. Two posts 20 are connected on outside of the two sides of the frame 30 and a handle (not shown) can be connected between the two posts 20.

The two operation members 10 each have a roller connected to a front end thereof and an inner rail 13 and an outer rail 11. The two respective outer rail 13 of the two operation members 10 each have a second hole 111 and the two outer rails 11 of each operation member 10 are pivotably connected to the two supports 24 by extending a pin through the alignment first and second holes 342, 111. The inner rail 13 is pivotably connected to the central member 37 by extending a pin 372 through the holes 131 in the two inner rails 13 and the holes 371 in the central member 37 extending from a middle of the rear bar 33. Two endless belts “B” respectively reeve through the rollers of the two operation members 10 and the driving shaft 35. The two swing devices 50 are respectively connected to two respective undersides of the two operation members 10. Two cylinders 21 are retractably between the two operation members 10 and the two rails of the frame 30. Two plates 14 are respectively connected to two inside rails 13 of the two operation members 10 and one of the plates 14 includes an L-shaped member 15 and a bearing 16 is connected to the L-shaped member 15 so as to provide buffer and support function to the operation members 10 to avoid tilt of the operation members 10.

A U-shaped member 40 is pivotably connected to the front bar 31 and includes two extensions and a transverse bar 46 is connected between the two extensions. A plurality of positioning holes are defined in the two extensions of the U-shaped member 40. A pad 421 is connected on each of the two extensions. Two sets of positioning devices are connected to the front bar 31 and each have a pin 44 which is pivotably connected to a lever 43. The two pins 44 respectively extend through two respective retaining members 41 and one of the positioning holes of the U-shaped member 40. By pivoting the levers 43, the pins 44 can be engaged with another positioning holes of the U-shaped member 40. Two springs 45 are mounted to the two pins 44 and located in the retaining members 41 so as to push the two pins 44 toward another positioning holes in the two extensions of the U-shaped member 40.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, each operation member 10 includes a ridge 12 on an underside of the front end thereof and each ridge 12 includes at least one inclined surface which is matched with one of the pads 421 when the U-shaped member 40 is pivoted to lift the front end of the two operation members 10. When the exerciser “A” is used as a treadmill, the front ends of the two operation members 10 are supported by the U-shaped member 40 and the middle portion of the operation members 10 are supported by the two cylinders 21.

When the exerciser “A” is used as a climbing exerciser as shown in FIG. 7, the U-shaped member 40 is located in its lower position and the front ends of the operation members 10 are not in contact with the U-shaped member 40. In this mold, the two operation members 10 are supported by the two supports 34 and the central member 37. In other words, the driving shaft 35, in the climbing exerciser mold, is not used and does not bear the weight of the user. This is benefit for prolonging the life of use of the driving shaft 35.

Further referring to FIGS. 8A and 8B, the rear wheel mechanism includes a carrier 62 which has one end pivotably connected between two lugs 61 connected to the rear bar 33 by a pin 614. A rear wheel 623 is connected to the carrier 62 which includes an upper hole 621 and a lower hole 622. A retaining member 611 is connected between the two lugs 61 and includes a small hole 612 and a large hole 613 are defined in two opposite sides thereof. A pin 63 extends through the retaining member 611 and one of the upper hole 6621 and the lower hole 622. The pin 63 includes a large end 632 and a small end 631, the large end 632 is sized to be engaged with both of the upper hole 621 and the lower hole 622 and the large hole 612. The large end 632 is larger than the small hole 612 so that the pin 63 cannot be pulled out from the retaining member 611. The small end 631 is pivotably connected to a lever 64 which can be pivoted to pull the large end 632 of the pin 63 from the large hole 613 of the retaining member 611 and either of the upper hole 621 and lower hole 622. When the carrier 62 is pivoted downward and positioned, the rear end of the frame 30 is lifted so that the exerciser “A” can be easily moved.

While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 

1. An exerciser comprising: a frame having a front bar, a middle bar and a rear bar connected between two sides of the frame, two sets of swing devices connected to the middle bar and a driving shaft connected between two supports and driven by a motor, and two operation members each having a roller connected to a front end thereof and an inner rail and an outer rail, a central member extending from a middle of the rear bar, each operation member having the outer rail pivotably connected to the respective one of the two supports and the inner rail pivotably connected to the central member, two endless belts respectively reeving through the rollers of the two operation members and the driving shaft, the two swing devices respectively connected to two respective undersides of the two operation members.
 2. The exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein two cylinders are retractably between the two operation members and the two rails of the frame.
 3. The exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the two supports includes a notch and an axle of the driving shaft is engaged with the two notches.
 4. The exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two supports each have a first hole and the two respective outer rail of the two operation members each have a second hole so that pins extend through the alignment first and second holes.
 5. The exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein a U-shaped member is pivotably connected to the front bar and a plurality of positioning holes are defined in two extensions of the U-shaped member, two sets of positioning devices are connected to the front bar and each have a pin which is pivotably connected to a lever, the two pins respectively extending through two respective retaining members and one of the positioning holes of the U-shaped member.
 6. The exerciser as claimed in claim 5, wherein each extension of the U-shaped member has a pad connected thereon and each operation member includes a ridge on an underside of the front end thereof, each ridge includes at least one inclined surface which is matched with one of the pads when the U-shaped member is pivoted to lift the front end of the two operation members.
 7. The exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein two front wheels are connected to two respective undersides of front ends of the two sides of the frame and a rear wheel mechanism is connected to the rear bar.
 8. The exerciser as claimed in claim 7, wherein the rear wheel mechanism includes a carrier which has one end pivotably connected between two lugs connected to the rear bar by a pin, a rear wheel is connected to the carrier which includes an upper hole and a lower hole, a retaining member is connected between the two lugs and a pin extends through the retaining member and one of the upper hole and the lower hole.
 9. The exerciser as claimed in claim 8, wherein the retaining member includes a small hole and a large hole defined in two opposite sides thereof and the pin includes a large end and a small end, the large end is sized to be engaged with both of the upper hole and the lower hole and the large hole, the large end is larger than the small hole, the small end is pivotably connected to a lever which is pivoted to pull the large end of the pin from the large hole of the retaining member and either of the upper hole and lower hole. 